Roland Garros Draw Breakdown – Eyes left as ‘that’ quarter-final looms large

Written by: Global Chick on 22nd May 2015

Roland Garros Draw Breakdown - Eyes left as 'that' quarter-final looms large |

There is only one ticket in town next week! The French Open is finally here, and after weeks of confidence-issues, first clay court titles, favourites falling and old faithfuls prevailing, it’s all eyes on Paris for the next two weeks!

Global Chick grabs a fresh warm pain au chocolat, a chocolat chaud (spot a recurring theme?) and settles down to tackle the draws – first up the men.

Everywhere you look people are going to be printing off the brackets, squinting at the impossibly small writing and working out who their picks are.

Never one to do things quite the same as anyone else, we’re going to tackle the top four and our ones to watch. Without further ado, and because the pain au chocolat is all gone, let’s crack on.

[1] Novak Djokovic
We were at Roland Garros the year that Djokovic was told the sad news that his childhood coach Jelena Gencic had sadly passed away. Bereft, he skipped press, but explained after his next match how influential she had been in his early life, and that she wanted him to win the French Open that year for her. Lord knows he wanted that too as we watched what was the de facto final in 2013, as he was beaten in the semi-final by Rafael Nadal in a five set thriller.

Last year he reached his second French Open final, but once more lost to Nadal (this time in four sets) and if only he had been able to force it to five sets, it could have been a very different story.

Is 2015 the year he changes the story? Djokovic is a staggering 35-2 this year, losing to Ivo Karlovic in the season opener in Doha, where he was struggling with a virus and then to Roger Federer in Dubai. He has collected four Masters titles in a row this year becoming the first man to do the Indian Wells/Miami double three times, before winning the Monte Carlo Masters and then most recently Rome.

He pretty much owns Andy Murray so far this year, and has collected a couple of wins over Roger Federer and is on a run of 22 straight wins at the moment. He had his fair share of wobbles in Rome, having chosen to skip the Madrid Masters to rest and recuperate, and so it should come as no surprise to anyone that he is widely tipped as the favourite.

He is set to potentially meet Rafael Nadal in the quarter-final, with possibly Murray or former French Open finalist David Ferrer in the semi-final and on course for a clash with Federer in the final. We’re not going to lie, the rest of his quarter fades into the distance when we eye up that potential quarter-final clash, and a win here may just see the eventual winner.

[2] Roger Federer
With only one French Open to his name, his last three years have seen him struggle a little to keep pace, falling in the semi-final, quarter-final, and then fourth round respectively. But since teaming up with Stefan Edberg Federer has enjoyed a resurgence to keep him right up at the top, but despite winning the inaugural ATP Istanbul 250 event, his progress on the clay has seen early exits in Monte Carlo and Madrid, before finding his form in Rome, losing in the final to Djokovic.

The draw has been very kind to the elder statesman as he misses Djokovic, Murray and Nadal, but he has a test with Gael Monfils as a potential fourth round opponent. While their head to head is 8-4 in Federer’s favour, Monfils has beaten him twice on the dirt He could go on to face Stan Wawrinka, who also has a couple of clay court wins over him. Our pick of Federer’s matches will be the fourth round if Monfils can stay in one piece.

[3] Andy Murray
We live in a world where Murray is now a clay court champion, not just once but twice in one week, no less. Yes we know that Nadal was struggling in Madrid, despite having one of the better runs on the dirt that week, and Murray opted to withdraw after his opening round in Rome to give himself the best chance of getting further than his two previous semi-final appearances in France. He has said that he is playing better and pain free on the clay having finally adjusted after the back surgery at the end of 2013.

It is a brutal draw for the Brit. He could face Nick Kyrgios in the third round, who was buoyed by his win over Federer in the Madrid Masters opener. Then next up could be John Isner, former finalist David Ferrer and if he survives all that he faces the aftermath of a potential Djokovic and Nadal quarter-final. If Murray wants Rolly-G as his third Grand Slam title, he will need to earn it, and his rematch against Kyrgios after beating him at the Australian Open will be a good test.

[4] Tomas Berdych
Now at the head of the chasing pack gunning for the ‘Big Four’ Berdych expects big things this year, Talking to him in Madrid, he knows that the new team around him should take six months to see the real results, and if there was ever a time to step up, this should be it.

Berdych can frustrate sometimes – he has put so much store into following his game plan, he sometimes forgets to play instinctive tennis if it is not working. His clay court season started well with the final of Monte Carlo, losing to Djokovic, and notched up the semi-finals in Madrid and the quarter-finals in Rome.

Berdych could face the flamboyant Fabio Fognini in the third round, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the fourth, but the World 4 and 5 could clash in the quarter-final as he potentially faces our dark horse Nishikori.

The best of the rest
[6] Rafael Nadal
With all eyes drawn to the potential quarter-final match up (and Nadal’s reaction in equal measure), the Spaniard was quick to point out that he had four matches before it even gets to that point. Standing in his way potentially are Adrian Mannarino in the third round and either Grigor Dimitrov or Tommy Robredo, both of whom he should handle if in form.

Do not count out his ability to raise his level when it comes to his favourite Slam. Nadal has had shaky starts to the year before, but has always been able to count on the European clay court season to pick up the pace, but this is one of his rockiest runs up to Paris since his 2005 debut. If he gets past Djokovic who would really rule him out to lift a 10th title after that?

[5] Kei Nishikori
Nishikori has been steady throughout the year, only placing lower than a quarter-final once this year (Indian Wells), but was surprisingly meek in his semi-final against Andy Murray after coming to Madrid in form having defended his Barcelona title.

He has beaten some of the best clay court players along the way this year, and is proving himself to be a very solid wall on the clay – he could infuriate Berdych if they clash in the quarter-finals and if the Czech can’t find a way past him, he may well fancy his chances of getting past either Monfils, Wawrinka or Federer for a second crack at a Slam title. Expect Nishikori to be well under the radar until deep into the tournament.

Topics: Andy Murray, Berdych, Federer, Kei Nishikori, main draw, men tennis news, Murray, nadal, Novak Djokovic, Rafa, Rafael Nadal, Roalnd Garros, Roger Federer, Tennis, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych, women tennis news

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10sBalls_com says:

May 22, 2015 at 4:55 am

@rolandgarros Draw Breakdown – Eyes left as ‘that’ quarter-final looms large – http://t.co/YDe7IhRqr6 @ATPWorldTour @DjokerNole @RafaelNadal
rfsatar says:

May 22, 2015 at 5:21 am

RT @10sBalls_com: @rolandgarros Draw Breakdown – Eyes left as ‘that’ quarter-final looms large – http://t.co/YDe7IhRqr6 @ATPWorldTour @Djok…